Maldives has lauded 580 tonnes of essential food items sent by India onboard INS Kesari to the Indian Ocean country under "Mission Sagar".&nbsp;

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a tweet said, "India has been a true friend to the Maldives" and "India’s recent gift of essential food supplies is particularly helpful during these challenging times. Our sincere thanks to PM Narendra Modi and the people of India for their friendship and generosity"

Meanwhile, calling it&nbsp;"India’s “Ramazan gift” to the Maldives", Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid said, "The aid we received today signifies the strong commitment of the Indian government to provide continued assistance to the government and the people of the Maldives. This demonstrates the kindness and generosity of the people of India towards the people of the Maldives".

The 580 tonnes of essential food items include rice, wheat flour, sugar, yellow dhal, onions and potatoes.

Thanking the Indian Navy, Abdulla said,"I wish to also thank the Indian armed forces, and in particular, the Indian Navy, and the commanding officer and crew of INS Kesari&nbsp;for their support in carrying this aid to the Maldives. "

"May this bridge between our countries, connected by the waters of the Indian Ocean, continue to become stronger and stronger,"&nbsp;Abdulla added.

Present on the occasion were Maldives Defence minister Uzthaza Mariya Didi, India's High Commissioner to the Maldives Sunjay Sudhir, Chief Executive of Maldives National Disaster Management Authority Hisaan Hassan &amp; Commanding Officer of Indian Navy Ship Kesari Commander Mukesh Tayal.

India has been reaching out to Male to deal with the COVID crisis. Under the operation, Sanjeevani in April Indian Air Force airlifted 6.2 tonnes of medicines to the country held in various cities in India and before that evacuate nine Maldivians out of Wuhan City, China, which was once the epicentre of the pandemic.

The Maldives is the first destination of India's Mission Sagar under which New Delhi will supply medicines and essential food commodities to 4 Indian ocean countries--Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles.

More Indians to be repatriated from Maldives

Indian Navy ship INS Jalashwa will make another voyage to Kochi on 15th May 2020 from Male port but will only carry Indian nationals from Kerala, Lakshadweep. &nbsp;Air India repatriation flights are being planned from the Maldives to Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai.&nbsp;

Indian mission in the Maldives said,"This is for Indian nationals, except from Kerala who are being brought back by INS Jalashwa"

INS Jalashwa will be bringing back 700 Indian nationals from &nbsp;Malè to Kochi on 15 May 2020 which will be during her second sortie. &nbsp;Jalashwa has already repatriated 698 citizens to India on 10 May during her first sortie. &nbsp;INS Magar, carrying 202 Indian nationals will be reaching &nbsp;Kochi later today.&nbsp;

Maldives has lauded 580 tonnes of essential food items sent by India onboard INS Kesari to the Indian Ocean country under "Mission Sagar". Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a tweet said, "India has been a true friend to the Maldives" and "India’s recent gift of essential food supplies is particularly helpful during these challenging times.

Maldives has lauded 580 tonnes of essential food items sent by India onboard INS Kesari to the Indian Ocean country under "Mission Sagar". Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a tweet said, "India has been a true friend to the Maldives" and "India’s recent gift of essential food supplies is particularly helpful during these challenging times. Our sincere thanks to PM Narendra Modi and the people of India for their friendship and generosity" Meanwhile, calling it "India’s “Ramazan gift” to the Maldives", Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid said, "The aid we received today signifies the strong commitment of the Indian government to provide continued assistance to the government and the people of the Maldives. This demonstrates the kindness and generosity of the people of India towards the people of the Maldives". The 580 tonnes of essential food items include rice, wheat flour, sugar, yellow dhal, onions and potatoes. Thanking the Indian Navy, Abdulla said,"I wish to also thank the Indian armed forces, and in particular, the Indian Navy, and the commanding officer and crew of INS Kesari for their support in carrying this aid to the Maldives. " "May this bridge between our countries, connected by the waters of the Indian Ocean, continue to become stronger and stronger," Abdulla added. Present on the occasion were Maldives Defence minister Uzthaza Mariya Didi, India's High Commissioner to the Maldives Sunjay Sudhir, Chief Executive of Maldives National Disaster Management Authority Hisaan Hassan & Commanding Officer of Indian Navy Ship Kesari Commander Mukesh Tayal. India has been reaching out to Male to deal with the COVID crisis. Under the operation, Sanjeevani in April Indian Air Force airlifted 6.2 tonnes of medicines to the country held in various cities in India and before that evacuate nine Maldivians out of Wuhan City, China, which was once the epicentre of the pandemic. The Maldives is the first destination of India's Mission Sagar under which New Delhi will supply medicines and essential food commodities to 4 Indian ocean countries--Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles. More Indians to be repatriated from Maldives Indian Navy ship INS Jalashwa will make another voyage to Kochi on 15th May 2020 from Male port but will only carry Indian nationals from Kerala, Lakshadweep. Air India repatriation flights are being planned from the Maldives to Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai. Indian mission in the Maldives said,"This is for Indian nationals, except from Kerala who are being brought back by INS Jalashwa" INS Jalashwa will be bringing back 700 Indian nationals from Malè to Kochi on 15 May 2020 which will be during her second sortie. Jalashwa has already repatriated 698 citizens to India on 10 May during her first sortie. INS Magar, carrying 202 Indian nationals will be reaching Kochi later today.

New Delhi's 'Ramazan gift' reaches Maldives; President Solih says India a 'true friend'

The Maldives foreign minister will visit Beijing before the end of 2018, officials said Wednesday, likely seeking to renegotiate the archipelago's Chinese debt.

China has loaned billions of dollars to countries around the Indian Ocean and beyond for infrastructure development, stoking fears of a debt trap.

The new Maldives government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has called for a review of Chinese-bankrolled projects initiated under predecessor Abdulla Yameen.

Former president Mohamed Nasheed, now Solih's mentor, has accused China of a land grab in the strategically placed Indian Ocean archipelago and called a free-trade agreement (FTA) agreed with Beijing under Yameen one-sided.

The announcement of Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid's upcoming trip to China came after he held talks with the Chinese ambassador in Male, Zhang Lizhong, on Monday.

The duo "discussed the progress of on-going Chinese projects... and future cooperation in areas of importance to the Maldives," the foreign ministry said without giving further details.

China's ambassador told the local Avas.mv website that in fact only about half of the Maldives' external debt pile of $1.2 billion was owed to Beijing.

He said the loans carried a two-per cent interest rate and a five-year grace period, while also disputing claims of a debt trap.

"We have nothing to gain if a friendly country falls into debt," he said. "There is no single (piece of) evidence to support the so-called debt trap claim."

Solih's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has said that the Maldives owes China around three billion dollars.

On Tuesday in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the FTA, which still has to be ratified by the Maldives parliament, was "a mutually beneficial and win-win" agreement.

"We believe that the Maldivian government will make the right choice."

Neighbouring Sri Lanka was forced to hand over a loss-making port to a Chinese state-owned company last year on a 99-year lease after failing to repay a $1.4-billion Chinese loan.

Soon after taking office at the weekend, Solih warned of a "dire" economic crisis as he turned to India for help, signalling an end to the pro-China stance of his predecessor Yameen.

Solih, who was little known before his surprise election win, briefed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi "on the dire economic situation" according to a joint statement after Saturday's swearing-in attended by Modi.

India has been the country's traditional main ally but Yameen, whose iron-fisted rule saw a string of political rivals locked up or exiled and the press muzzled, moved closer to China.

The Maldives foreign minister will visit Beijing before the end of 2018, officials said Wednesday, likely seeking to renegotiate the archipelago's Chinese debt. China has loaned billions of dollars to countries around the Indian Ocean and beyond for infrastructure development, stoking fears of a debt trap.

The Maldives foreign minister will visit Beijing before the end of 2018, officials said Wednesday, likely seeking to renegotiate the archipelago's Chinese debt. China has loaned billions of dollars to countries around the Indian Ocean and beyond for infrastructure development, stoking fears of a debt trap. The new Maldives government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has called for a review of Chinese-bankrolled projects initiated under predecessor Abdulla Yameen. Former president Mohamed Nasheed, now Solih's mentor, has accused China of a land grab in the strategically placed Indian Ocean archipelago and called a free-trade agreement (FTA) agreed with Beijing under Yameen one-sided. The announcement of Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid's upcoming trip to China came after he held talks with the Chinese ambassador in Male, Zhang Lizhong, on Monday. The duo "discussed the progress of on-going Chinese projects... and future cooperation in areas of importance to the Maldives," the foreign ministry said without giving further details. China's ambassador told the local Avas.mv website that in fact only about half of the Maldives' external debt pile of $1.2 billion was owed to Beijing. He said the loans carried a two-per cent interest rate and a five-year grace period, while also disputing claims of a debt trap. "We have nothing to gain if a friendly country falls into debt," he said. "There is no single (piece of) evidence to support the so-called debt trap claim." Solih's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has said that the Maldives owes China around three billion dollars. On Tuesday in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the FTA, which still has to be ratified by the Maldives parliament, was "a mutually beneficial and win-win" agreement. "We believe that the Maldivian government will make the right choice." Neighbouring Sri Lanka was forced to hand over a loss-making port to a Chinese state-owned company last year on a 99-year lease after failing to repay a $1.4-billion Chinese loan. Soon after taking office at the weekend, Solih warned of a "dire" economic crisis as he turned to India for help, signalling an end to the pro-China stance of his predecessor Yameen. Solih, who was little known before his surprise election win, briefed India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi "on the dire economic situation" according to a joint statement after Saturday's swearing-in attended by Modi. India has been the country's traditional main ally but Yameen, whose iron-fisted rule saw a string of political rivals locked up or exiled and the press muzzled, moved closer to China.

Maldives to send envoy to China seeking renegotiation of debt

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New Delhi's 'Ramazan gift' reaches Maldives; President Solih says India a 'true friend'

Maldives to send envoy to China seeking renegotiation of debt